Filing mechanism



June 25, 1968 o. H. HUMPHREY 3,389,944

FILING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 26, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGI FIG?) INVENTOR DAVID H. HUMPHREY BY M ATTORNEYS.

June 25, 1968 HUMPHREY 3,389,944

F'ILING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 26, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG? INVENTOR 86 DAVID H. HUMPHREY flu 4m ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent cc 3,389,944 FILING MEQHANBM David H. Humphrey, F. D. Roosevelt Ave, Hato Rey, Pnerto Rico @0918 Fiied Sept. 26, 1966, Ser. No. 582,023 9 Claims. (Cl. 312-193) ABSTRACT OF THE DlStlLOSURE Filing mechanism including cantilever arms and continuous accordion folded panel type filing folders. The cantilever arms are single rods each having a horizontal arm, a hook-like bend at one end thereof, an angular arm extending downwardly beneath the horizontal arm and pivot portions at the terminal ends of the horizontal and angular arms pivoted in matching holes of a pair of supporting brackets. The cantilever arms can swing for opening the filing folder between any pair of arms to gain access to the material filed therein.

This invention relates to filing mechanism of simple, durable and inexpensive construction wherein a combination of pivoted cantilever arms and a filing folder of continuous accordion folded panel type form a means for filing letters, drawings, files, and the like.

One object of the invention i to provide an efficient supporting means for a continuous accordion folded panel type of filing folder wherein such means is adapted to be adjusted for opening any desired section of the filing folder for ready access to the contents thereof.

More specifically, the means for supporting the filing folder comprises upper and lower brackets having spaced holes matching each other and cantilever arms which are pivoted in these holes for selective swinging of any pair of arms toward or away from each other, the upper folds of the filing folder being supported on horizontal portions of the cantilever arms and the lower folds thereof being adapted to support filed material between the panels thereof.

Another object is to provide a pair of brackets which are supported one above the other and cantilever arms each of which comprises a horizontal portion and an inclined portion, the inner end of the horizontal portion having a pivot in the upper bracket and the lower end of the inclined portion having a pivot in the lower bracket, thereby providing a comparatively simple and inexpensive support for each section of the filing folder.

Still another object is to provide brackets which may be arranged with their holes in a straight line for providing a rectangular filing mechanism or in an arc whereby the filing mechanism is fan-like in plan view, the rectangular arrangement being suitable for desk drawers and the like and the fan-like arrangement being suitable for mounting on the back of a panel element that may form the front of a desk or wall with the filing folders normally concealed behind such panel elements, the panel elements being capable of rotation or pivotal movement to positions where the filing folders are accessible from the front of the desk or wall.

A further object is to provide a suitable retainer element for the outer extremity of the filing folder so that filed material is confined against slipping out of the panels of the filing folder.

Still a further object is to provide biasing means to normally retain the filing mechanism in a closed position and permit its movement against the bias to an opened position.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my disclosed filing mechanism, whereby the objects above contemplated are attained as Patented June 25, 1968 hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in detail on the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a plurality of my filing mechanisms mounted in a wall, one of the mechanisms being open and a portion of the wall being broken away to show another one (which is in closed position) back of the wall, these filing mechanisms being of the 180 type.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one of the filing mechanisms and a portion of another one, only a few sections of the filing folder being shown.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a continuous filing folder of accordion folded panel type formed of heavy paper, cardboard, fiberboard, or the like, and which forms part of my filing mechanism.

H6. 4 is a plan view of one corner of a desk with the filing mechanism of FIG. 2 mounted thereon.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a desk in which a arrangement of my filing mechanism is mounted.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view with portions cut away of one of the filing units depicted in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a desk showing a rectangular arrangement of my filing mechanism mounted in a drawer thereof.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the drawer in FIG. 7 showing details of a portion of the filing mechanism mounted therein.

FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view on the line 9 of FIG. 4 to show one arrangement whereby two filing units may be mounted in a desk.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic plan view of a special shape of desk having a 270 filing unit mounted therein.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of one corner of a desk showing the 90 filing unit of FIG. 5 mounted in a different relationship to the desk top than that disclosed in FIG. 5.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional View as taken on the line 12-12 of FIG. 9 and shows a plan view of a bracket and biasing means for normally retaining the filing mechanism in a predetermined closed position and permitting the opening thereof against such bias; and

FIG. 13 is a similar view of a portion of FIG. 12 showing different positions of the bracket and thereby the filing mechanism relative to the closed position of FIG. 12, the open position being shown by solid lines and an intermediate position between closed and opened being shown by dot and dash lines.

On the accompanying drawings I have used the reference numeral 20 to indicate a wall of a filing room or the like and 22 a series of panel elements which are substantially flush with the wall 20 in the closed position of the filing mechanisms formed in part by the panel elements 22.

Referring to FIG. 2, one unit of my filing mechanism comprises an upper bracket 24 and a lower bracket 26 which are secured to the panel 22 and are rotatable on a stationary vertical shaft 40. The bracket 24 has spaced holes 23 and the bracket 26 has spaced holes 30 matching the holes 28, the holes being arranged on an are as illustrated for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

A series of cantilever arms A are provided, one for each pair of matching holes 28 and 30 in the brackets 24 and 26, only four of them being shown in FIG. 2. Each cantilever arm A is formed of a length of wire having an upper pivot portion 32 pivoting in one of the holes 28, a horizontal file supporting portion 34, and a slanting brace portion 36 terminating in a lower pivot portion 38 pivoted in the matching hole 30 of the lower bracket 26. Obviously, the cantilever arms A may be swung with respect to their supporting brackets 24 and 26 so that two adjacent ones can be spread apart or brought toward each other.

3 A filing folder, shown generally at F and illustrated in detail in FIG. 3, comprising an elongated sheet of paper, cardboard, fiberboard, cloth, plastic material or other suitable material, is folded accordionlike so that there are upper folds 44 and lower folds 46 between which there are panels 48. The upper folds 44 are adapted to be supported on the horizontal supporting portions 34 of the cantilever arms A as shown in FIG. 2 so that the lower folds 46 thereof may support materials such as letters, drawings, files or the like between the two adjacent panels 48. By having the cantilever arms A pivotally mounted, when access is desirable to any particular section of the filing folder F, the two cantilever arms thereadjacent may be spread apart to facilitate such access.

All but one of the filing mechanism units shown in FIG. 1 are in closed position. One is shown in opened position which is accomplished by pushing inwardly on either end of the panel element 22 so that the entire unit of panel element, brackets, cantilever arms and filing folder may be swung (through any angle up to 180) for gaining access to the filed material in the filing folder F. Suitable mechanism may be provided to normally retain the panel elements 22 flush with the wall 20 in the closed positions of the filing units such as hereinafter described in connection with FIGS. 9, 12 and 13. A retainer rod 42 may be secured to the panel element 22 to retain the filing folder F against slipping outwardly off the cantilever arms, particularly when the filing mechanism is moved rapidly and centrifugal force acts upon the filing folder and its contents.

FIG. 4 illustrates how one of the 180 filing units shown in FIG. 2 may be mounted in a desk, the top thereof being shown at 50. The panel element 22 may be flush with a front wall 52 of the desk when the filing unit is in the closed position shown by dotted lines. When the filing unit is rotated 180", it will appear as shown in dot-and-dash lines and the filing folder will be exposed for ready access to its contents.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a modified shape of filing unit having a 90 arrangement suitable for mounting in a desk 54. Instead of a flat panel element such as 22 shown in FIG. 2, a pair of panels 56 and 58 at right angles to each other and a curved retainer wall 60 form a pivoted drawer for containing the filing folder F. As shown in FIG. 6, the brackets 24 and 26 are suitably modified for attachment to the walls 56 and 58.

In FIG. 7 a desk 62 is shown having a drawer 64 slidably mounted therein. A modified (rectangular) shape of filing mechanism is disclosed (see also FIG. 8) wherein upper and lower brackets 66 and 68 are provided in the form of angle irons of the like perforated along their lengths with spaced holes arranged in straight lines. The same cantilever arms A are pivotally mounted in the holes of the brackets and when access is desired to any section of the filing folder, the two adjacent arms can be spread apart as permitted by the pivoting action. My general type of filing mechanism is accordingly suitable for areas of rectangular plan view as well as areas forming portions of a circle or fan-like as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6.

In FIG. 9 the desk top 59 of FIG. 4 is shown together with a suitable mounting for the stationary vertical shaft 40. The upper end thereof is secured against rotation in a bracket 70 which in turn is secured to the desk top 50 while the lower end of the shaft 40 may be received in a sleeve 72, the lower end of which is secured to the floor surface if the desk is stationarily mounted, or to some portion of the desk in order to positively locate the lower end of the shaft 40 with respect to the desk. The brackets 24 and 26 as before mentioned are rotatable on the shaft 40, and stop collars 74 may be provided to support the filing units at proper elevations on the shaft 40.

FIG. 10 illustrates a special shape of desk top 76 havinga corner cutout as indicated at 78, therebymaking the desk adaptable for a filing unit of 270 type. FIG. 11 shows a desk top 50 similar to FIG. 4 wherein the shaft 40 of the filing unit is mounted adjacent the corner of the desk and the filing unit itself is of 90 character as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 but suspended in a different position than illustrated in FIG. 5. It is thus obvious that a filing mechanism of the type herein disclosed is quite versatile as to arrangement while using the salient features of my invention, to wit: pivoted cantilever arms and a filing folder of continuous accordion folded panel type.

FIG. 12 illustrates a centering arrangement comprising a stop bracket mounted on the shaft 40 and secured in a desired adjusted position relative thereto by a clamp bolt 82. A roller 84 coacts with cam surfaces of the stop bracket 80 and is journalled on a bracket 86 pivoted at 88 to the upper bracket 24, a spring 90 and a bracket 92 also secured to the bracket 24 serving as means to bias the roller 84 toward the stop bracket 80. The stop bracket is adjusted around the shaft 40 so that the panel 22, when the roller 84 coacts with the stop bracket as shown in FIG. 12, is properly aligned with the wall 20 in FIG. 1, or the front wall 52 of a desk or the like as in FIG. 4.

FIG. 13 shows by dot-and-dash lines an intermediate position between the closed position of FIG. 12 and an opened position shown by solid lines in FIG. 13, and an arrow 94 shows the path of the axis of the roller 84 as the rollers traverse the cam surface of the stop bracket 80 to permit movement of the filing unit from closed position against the bias of the spring 90. When the panel 22 is returned to a position adjacent its closed position, the bias tends to center the filing unit as in FIG. 12 and retain it in properly aligned position when the filing unit reaches the closed position thereof.

From the foregoing specification it will be obvious that I have provided a comparatively simple filing mechanism readily adaptable for mounting in the Walls of filing rooms or in desks and the like. The filing units can be multiplied both vertically and horizontally, four units high and four units wide being depicted in FIG. 1. The arrangement of the filing folders and their accessibility operates for efficient filing and finding of filed material as well as ease of operation inasmuch as the cantilever arms pivot freely with minimum effort and thereby provide ready access to the contents of the filing pockets of the folder Whether it is arranged fan-like as in FIG. 2 or rectangularly as in FIG. 8. The cantilever arms as well as the entire filing unit pivot freely with minimum effort. The fan-like arrangement is usually not detrimental to maximum capacity as papers having clips or binders along one edge can be filed with the clips or binders opposite the pivoted ends of the cantilever arms. Also, by suspending an accordionlike filing folder on the horizontal portions 34 of the cantilever arms there is no chance for papers and files to slip down as in many prior types of filing systems.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my filing mechanism without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may reasonably be included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a filing mechanism of the character disclosed, an upper bracket having spaced holes, a lower bracket having spaced holes matching those of said upper bracket, means for supporting said brackets, a plurality of cantilever arms, each comprising a single rod-like element having a horizontal arm, a pivot portion at one end thereof, a hook-like bend at the opposite end thereof which extends above the top of said horizontal arm, an angular arm extending downwardly beneath said horizontal arm and a second pivot portion at the terminal end of said angular arm, said pivot portions being received in said matching holes, and a filing folder of continuous accordion folded panel type having alternate folds thereof supported on said horizontal arms of said cantilever arms, the remaining folds thereof being adapted to support file-:1 material between the panels of said filing folder.

2. A filing mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said holes of each bracket are arranged in a straight line and said filing mechanism is thereby rectangular in plan view.

3. A filing mechanism according to claim 2 wherein said filing mechanism is mounted in a desk drawer or the like with said brackets secured to one ide wall only of said drawer.

4. A filing mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said holes of each bracket are arranged in an arc whereby said filing mechanism is fan-like in plan view, said means for supporting said brackets comprises a vertical shaft for pivotally mounting said brackets, and wherein a panel element is secured to said brackets for concealing said cantilever arms and said filing folders in one pivotal position of said filing mechanism and for exposing said cantilever arms and said filing folders for access to the contents of said filing folders in another pivotal position of said filing mechanism.

5. A filing mechanism according to claim 4 wherein an arcuate retainer element is secured to said panel element and circumscribes the outer edge of said filing folder.

6. A filing mechanism according to claim 5 wherein said retainer element comprises a wall extending substantially from bottom to top of the outer edge of said filing folder.

7. A filing mechanism of the character disclosed comprising an upper bracket having spaced holes, a lower bracket having spaced holes matching those of said upper bracket, means for supporting said brackets, a plurality of cantilever arms, each having a pair of pivot portions in said matching holes and a substantially horizontal portion, and a filing folder of continuous accordion folded panel type having alternate folds thereof supported on said horizontal portions of said cantilever arms, the remaining folds thereof being adapted to support filed material between the panels of said filing folder, said holes of each bracket being arranged in an arc whereby said filing mechanism is fan-like in plan view, said means for sup- 5 porting said brackets comprising a vertical shaft for pivotally mounting said brackets, and biasing means to normally retain said filing mechanism in said one pivotal position and permit its movement against the bias toward said another position.

8. A filing mechanism according to claim 7 wherein said biasing means comprises a cam element and a roller element, one of said elements being carried by said shaft and the other of said elements being carried by one of said brackets.

9. Filing mechanism comprising an upper bracket having spaced holes, a lower bracket having spaced holes matching those of said upper bracket, means for supporting said brackets and a plurality of cantilever arms each having only four portions,

(1) a pivot portion in one of said holes of said upper bracket,

(2) a substantially horizontal portion extending outwardly from said pivot portion and (3) a downwardly and inwardly inclined portion terminating in (4) a second pivot portion in a matching hole of said lower bracket, and a filing folder of continuous accordion folded panel type, the individual sections of which are supported by two adjacent horizontal portions of said cantilever arms by having their upper folds extending over said horizontal portions, said cantilever arms having an upwardly hooked transition portion between said horizontal and inclined portions to retain said filing folder on said cantilever arms.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 593,636 11/1897 Bamberger 312-304 1,421,515 7/1922 McKnight 12916 2,196,557 4/1940 Hunnicutt 40102 2,678,651 5/1954 De Whalley 129-16 2,790,443 4/ 1957 Wassell 12916 2,826,203 3/1958 Wassell 129-16 2,990,961 7/ 1961 Schneider 21140 3,092,256 6/1963 Vernik 211169 X CASMIR A. NUNBERG, Primary Examiner. 

